The next day, at Tianze’s house.
Vyea rolled over and sat up. The feeling of being clung to like an octopus, combined with the pressure on her lower abdomen that felt like a heavy stone, meant her sleep last night hadn’t been particularly wonderful.
“Meatballs… hehe… my vegetable meatballs…” Jasmine, dreaming of who knows what, rested her head against Vyea’s chest while tightly hugging this warm, human-shaped pillow.
‘At least the kid isn’t drooling.’
Vyea extracted herself from Jasmine’s embrace, tucked a real pillow into the girl’s arms, and then grabbed the Black Hunt resting on her thighs. With a sharp *thud*, she tossed the cat off the bed.
*Meow!*
Hekate landed with a start and instinctively looked up at the expressionless Vyea, her eyes filled with confusion. “Meow?”
“Don’t ‘meow’ at me!”
Vyea pointed at the plum blossom paw prints scattered across the sheets and quilts, gritting her teeth. “Did you go out last night, step in the mud, and come back without washing your paws?”
The black cat stared intently at the bed. It was quite the masterpiece of yellow plum blossoms on a snowy field!
She immediately looked away guiltily and let out a placating cry.
‘My lady, it wasn’t me.’
‘Fine, I washed my paws… I just forgot the back ones.’
“You are going to clean all of this for me. And… my pajamas.”
Vyea had used the few copper coins she earned from selling dirty bottles to buy a new quilt, only for it to be defiled in a single night. Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was absolute. “Don’t let me find it still dirty when I get back, or else I’ll take your hide to the tailor to be made into a rug!”
“I’m not a maid! You’re abusing cats! I’m going to report you to the human Animal Protection Association!”
“Heh, you dead cat.”
Vyea rubbed her aching forehead.
“Mama, are you going out?”
Sensing the atmosphere was turning sour, Jasmine, who had been feigning sleep, jumped in to play the role of the peacemaker.
‘If Sister Cat gets hit, it’s fine; she has thick skin anyway.’
‘But if Mama gets angry, it won’t be good for her health.’
‘If Mama gets worn out from anger, who will provide the maternal love I’m missing?’
“I’m going to buy breakfast for you both first, then I’ll head to the Adventurer’s Association to see if there are any suitable commissions for me.”
As her daughter woke up, Vyea’s tone softened. She shot a sidelong glance at the pitiful-looking black cat.
“This wretched cat’s wanted posters are still hanging in the streets and alleys. Sometimes, I really want to turn her in for gold coins.”
“Turn me in? Is that any way to treat a cat? We’ve been together so long, yet you’d sell me for mere gold coins? What about our friendship — or our bonds? Fine, fine, don’t look at me like that. It’s just a bit of dirt. It’s not like I can’t wash it!”
Under Vyea’s dangerous gaze, the black cat tactfully backed down. She suddenly realized something: Vyea was different from most messy demons; she hated seeing her things made into a filthy, chaotic mess.
Just like humans, some people had morning grumpiness; some became irritable and aggressive when hungry; but others could endure anything for gold coins, even if their own lives were on the other side of the scale…
Hekate had lived in human society for a long time and had observed many humans from a distance.
Unlike demons, who were straightforward, human triggers were strange and varied.
Thinking of this, Hekate’s mood settled.
‘Maybe in every way except for her body, Vyea is closer to a human than the Slime Princess.’
Thinking about it that way, it was her own fault for doing something wrong…
‘Sorry, meow.’
The black cat lowered her head in apology.
Vyea was stunned for a moment, then let out a sigh. Was she really doing this? Getting into a spat with a cat first thing in the morning.
“Fine. Have you ever washed clothes before?” Vyea asked an important question.
“No… but how hard can it be?”
“Forget it, I won’t make you do it.”
She still couldn’t bear to look at the dirt-stained bedding. Vyea looked away, giving up on the idea of reasoning with a creature. It was about as reliable as asking a dung beetle to stop rolling dung.
She walked toward the door, shifting the topic back to the main point. “Do you want to come out and eat with me, or should I bring something back for you later?”
“I want to go with Mama!” Jasmine raised her hand.
The black cat tilted her head and asked softly, “What about me?”
“Suit yourself.” Vyea left indifferently, her attitude making it clear she didn’t care if the cat stayed or followed.
At the doorway, Jasmine secretly beckoned to the cat.
‘Quick, come on!’
***
After filling their stomachs, they arrived near the gates of the Adventurer’s Association where tasks were accepted. Vyea stared blankly at the bustling, diverse crowd of people ahead of her.
This was the “third” time she had come here. Not the third time in terms of count, but the third time in terms of her state of mind.
The first time, she had been the Brave, leading her team across this land filled with magic and mysterious creatures.
For the same demon, someone would place a bounty on its heart, another on its core, and some simply wanted it dead. Therefore, while completing tasks issued by important figures, she would also pick up related commissions to kill two, or even three, birds with one stone.
The second time, she had only recently become a demon. Lost and unsure of where her path led, she would sneak into the city alone to accept simple commissions in exchange for some money to survive.
The third time was now.
“Mama, can I be an Adventurer too?” Jasmine gripped Vyea’s sleeve tightly, like a drowning person clutching at a final piece of driftwood.
The crowded streets and the various bizarre shouts made her both expectant and fearful.
The vendors selling candied haws wouldn’t just wait; they would actively seek out children who looked like potential customers. However, when a vendor approached Jasmine, she was so scared she shrunk her head back, wishing she could press her entire body into Vyea.
This was completely different from the world she had seen through the words in books. The world before her was so vivid and full of life.
“How much for the candied haws?” Vyea asked the thin vendor while stroking Jasmine’s fluffy head.
“Two copper coins a stick, or three sticks for five copper coins. If you’d like, miss, I can even give you a discount…”
“No need. I’ll take three sticks.”
“Coming right up! That’ll be five copper coins.”
Once the three sticks of candied haws were in hand, Vyea gave all of them to Jasmine. The girl stood there dazed as she held them.
“Mama, aren’t you eating?”
“I don’t like sweets.”
Vyea smiled and pinched Jasmine’s chubby cheek. “They’re all yours.”
“Thank you…”
Jasmine’s voice was so low that only she could hear it. She lowered her head slightly, clutching the three small sticks of candied haws as if she were holding the entire world.
“The noble lady from that household has run out to experience life again.”
As soon as Vyea entered the gates of the Adventurer’s Association and stepped into the bustling Hall, she drew the attention of the Adventurers. Although they maintained their previous actions, their gazes had already fallen upon her.
“Process an application for her to join the Adventurer’s Association.”
Approaching the counter near the Association’s bulletin board, Vyea pulled out her Gold-grade Adventurer Badge and pointed at Jasmine, who was behind her holding the candied haws.
“Bronze Grade is fine.”